Stoker



March 27, 1928. 1,663,637

- N. M. LOWER STOKER 7 Filed Sept. 27. 1924 .4Sheets-Shet 2 [9e Mentor:

March 27, 1928.

N. M. LOWER swbxsa Filed Sept. 27. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 27, 1'92& v I 1,663.637

N. M. LOWER STOKER Filed Sept. 27. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet-4 M03202 Jazz/er NATHA M.

Patented Ma. 27, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOWER, or PITTSBURGH,PENNSYLVANIA, AssreNon 'ro LOGOMQTIVE STOKER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSY ANIA.

STOKER.

Application filed September 27, 1924. Serial No. 740,167.

This invention relates to stokers, and more particularly to themechanically operated ty e. v

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of means for operating the fuel-. delivering vanes together wlth new and lmproved means for cushioning the forward movement thereof.

- Another object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for operating the vanes whereby a single resilient member is utilized for operating a plurality of vanes in one direction.

A further object of the invention is the provision of new and improved means for timing the movement of the various parts so that av minimum amount of fuel is delivered inthe path of the receding vane.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of new and'improved means for operating and for varying the action of the vanes.

' Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will appear from the'follow- .ing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is. a front elevation of the stoker showing one of the distributing vanes extended forwardly and in section, and showing the power shaft in section ;on line 17-1 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 2 is a section on line 22 of Fig. 3; Fig. 3 is a verticalsection of a portion of a locomotive and stoker showing my invention in position thereon,

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 -4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the deyice, with parts insection, and parts broken away;

Fig. 6 is a section of a detail; Fig. 7 is a section on line 7-7 ofFig'. 3; and I Fig. 8 is a sectional plan View of a detail. For convenience the inventionwill be described. as applied to a locomotive. It is understood, however, that its use is not limited to locomotives or confined to. any particular type of fire-box.

On the drawings the reference character 10 designates the fire-box of a railway loco-.

motive, 11 the back wall thereof, and 12 the the door opening, all of which may be of the usual or any approved construction.

The mechanism comprises the conveyor or fuel transferring member 13 of any approved construction. That shown is in the form of a conveyor screw 14, rotatably mounted inthe casing 15 and trough 16, in the usual manner. The screw lt is operated from the motor or engine 17 through the chain drive 18, power shaft 19 and gears 20, 21 and 22, in the gear box 23 located at the rear end of the trough 16. .The front end of the'c'asing 15 is enlarged, as at 24, to provide sufficient space for-receiving the fuel from the return conduits 25 and 26,

as will presently appear, and is connected to the elevator casing 27 by the universal .joint 28.:

.Fuel is transferred from the tender by the conveyor 13 to the, casing 27, in which it is elevated by any suitable mechanism. a

As shown, the elevator 29 is in the form of a screw.

The upper flight of the screw is formed into a flat portion 30, which is adapted to be flush with the 'top of the distributor plate 31. The fuel delivered by the elevator 29 to the fiat portion of the screw and the distributor plate 31 is projected into the fire-box 10 of a locomotive by the W oscillating vanes 32 and 33, the one scattering it over the left and the other over the right portion thereof. Suitable means are provided for rotating the elevator 29 in timed relation to the operation of the vanes, whereby either portion 30 will be in its forward position when the other vane is advanced. In order that the amount of fuel delivered by the elevator in rear of either vane during its forward movement be a 1ninimum,-the elevator operating means is so constructed that the elevator will rotate at different speeds and will be rotating at its minimum rate during the movement of either vane. Any suitable mechanism may be employed for this purpose. As shown, the elevator 29 is operated by elliptic gears in a manner that will now be described.

The lower end of the shaft 34 of the elevator 29 is provided with an elliptic gear 35. which meshes with the corresponding elliptic gear 36 on the countershaft 37 The shaft 37 is provided with a bevel gear 38, which meshes with the corresponding bevel gear on the power shaft 19, whereby said elevator is operated from the motor 17. A

105. 1 suitable housing 4:1, having the extension 42,

amount of coal that is moved rearwardly by the vanes as they are retracted is small and does not interfere with the operation of the vanes. The coal moved rearwardly falls into the pockets 42 and 43, and is returned by the conduits 25 and 26 to the casing 24.

The increased size of the casing 13, as well as the increased diameter of the upper end of the conveying screw 14, will accommodate any coal that may be returned through the conduits 25,.26.

Suitable means are provided for operating the vanes 32 and 33. As shown, thelength is such that the tension of the same will be relieved an instant before the vanes reach their limit of forward movement, whereby the final forward movement of the same will result in compressing the spring to a certain extent. Thus the spring will cause the vanes to swingforwardly and will also cushion their forward movement. This is considered an important feature, since it relieves the vanes of considerable strain 111-- as at 54, 55. The lever 52 is provided at its upper end with a curved surface 56, which is adaptedto be engaged by laterally extending contact members, as the rollers 57 and 58, carried by, a rotating disc 59 for retracting the rack bar 46, as will presently appear. A curved lever arm 61, pivoted as at 62, has its upper end. in engagement with the lever 53, as by means of a flanged roller or wheel 63. The lever arm'61 is adapted to be engaged by the contact members 57, 58,- for forcing said arm into engagement with the lever 53 for moving thesame outwardly to retract the rack bar. 47. A spring 60, between the arm 61 and link 56, is adapted to withhold said arm from the actuating lever 53, its inner surface remaining in the path, of the contact members 57, 58, whereby said arm will not interfere with'the inward movement of the lever 53 and the consequent forward movement of the vanes 32.

The rack bars 46 and 47 are held in retracted position by any suitable mechanism, suchas the spring-pressed dogs or latches 64, 65, which are adapted to engage in the recesses 66, 67, in the said bars 46, 47, respectively.

The disc 59 may be rotated by any approved mechanism. As shown, it is opcrated from the shaft 19 by the sprocket chain 68, which engages sprockets on said disc and a sprocket wheel on said shaft, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 7.

It is desirable that means he provided for feeding uniformly to all parts of the grate area, or for trimming the fire at either side of the fire-box, as occasion may require. In the form of the device selected to illustrate an embodiment of the invention, means have been provided whereby the fireman may cause the vanes 32, 33, to operate alternately or selectively, as desired. This is accomplished by 'controlling the tripping of the dogs or latches 64, 65.

The latch 64 is provided with a tripping arm 71, and the latch 65 with a tripping arm 7 5, taking the form of a lever pivoted, as at 77, and its load end 76 being connected by a link 78 to the. latch, as shown through the medium of a crank arm 81 extending from the hub of the latch. The arms 71, 75, are

tripped by means of radially slidable bars 72,73, carried within. suitable casings 83, 83, mounted on the disc 59, springs 85, 85, holding them normally in retracted and hence inactive positions. Cams 86 and 91, formed on a rotatably adjustable sleeve 87 mounted on a hub 88 of the disc 59, engage the inner ends of the bars 72 and 73, respectively, to force them outward at suitable intervals to efiect the tripping action. I

The swell of the cam 86, which cooperates with the bar 72, extends almost entirely around the sleeve, while the cam 91, which cooperates with. the bar 73, is short and is located opposite the flat or inactive portion 89 of the cam 86. For the normal operation of the stoker the cams are positioned as shown in Fig. 7, and the bar (2 trips both arms 71, 75, during each complete rotation of the disc, the bar 73 being retracted as it passes each arm. By shifting the sleeve 87 to bring cam 91 opposite the arm 71 and the flat portion of cam 86 opposite arm 75, the

86 and 91 may be shifted for controlling the tripping of the latches 64, 65. As shown, the sleeve 87 is provided with a pinion 92, whichis adapted to be engaged by a rack bar 93. The rack bar 93 is held in position by suitable means, as the roller guide 94.

- cated by a manually operated lever 95, and

fill

the usual manner.

held in I adjusted position'by said lever, in

I claim as my invention 1. In a stoker, a distributor plate, means for supplying fuel to said distributor plate, a pair of vanes operating in a plane substantially parallel with said plate, means including one spring only for impelling both of said vanes forwardly for throwing said fuel from said plate. a

2. In a stoker, in combination, a pair of swinging fuel-delivering vanes operating about independentaxes, means including one spring only for moving said vanes, said spring being adapted to move each vane in one direction, and means for tensioning said a spring.

3. In a stoker, incombination, a fire-box, a pair of swinging vanes mounted to operate about independent axes, means for moving said vanes forwardly for supplying 'fuel to said fire-box, said means, including one spring only for cushioning the forward movement of said vanes.

4.- In combination, a stoker, a fire-box provided with arr-opening, a distributor plate in said opening,.a pair of'swinging vanes for sweeping fuel from said plate into said fire-box, a variable speed elevator for deliveringfuel to said plate, means for oper ating said vanes in timed relation to the operation of said elevator, and means for operating said elevator, said means being adapted to operate said elevator at its minimum speed during the movement of said vanes.

5. In combination, a stolrer having an opening in one wall thereof, a distributor plate in said opening distributor means \for projecting the fuel from said plate into said fire-box, a variable speed elevator, means for operating-said distributor means intermittently, and means for operating said "elevator, said means being adapted to operate said elevator at its maximum speed during the inactive periodof said distributor means. g

6. In combination, a stoker, a fire-box provided with an opening, a distributor plate in said opening,a pair of swinging vanes for sweeping fuel from said plate into-said thebox, a variable speed elevator for delivering fuel to said plate, means for operating said vanes in timed relation to theoperation of said elevator, means for operating said elevator, said means being adaptedto operate said elevator at its minimum speed during the movement of said vanes, and conduits for receiving the fuel swept 'rearwardly by the return movements of said vanes.

7. In a stoker, a distributor plate, a pair of swinging vanes for sweeping fuel from said plate, a single spring for operating said vanes, said spring being adapted to move 9.-.In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes,

means for alternately operating said vanes, avariable speed elevator for delivering fuel in the path of said vanes, and means for operating said elevator and varies in timed relation. ,7 N

10. In a Stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, rack bars for operating said vanes,-a spring connected to said rack bars for moving the same, said spring being adapted to move each bar in' one direction, and means i1i-' eluding rotating contact mechanism for moving said bars in the opposite direction. I

11. In combination, a distributor plate a variable speed screw elevator for delivering fuel to said plate, the upper-flight of the screw terminating in a flat plate'fiusli with said distributor plate, means for rotating said elevator at minimumspeed while said flat plate is in its foremost position, a pair of swinging vanes for sweeping the fuel from said plates, and means to swing one of said vanes forwardly while said'elevator is turning at minimum speed.

12. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, means including rack bars for operating said vanes, a' spring connected to said'rack bars, means for moving said bars to tension said spring, latches for holding said bars with said spring under tension, and manually controlled means for releasing said latches. 13. In a stoker, a pair of swinging vanes, rack bars for operating said vanes, spring means for moving said bars in one direction. a rotating disc, contact members on said disc, means including a pair of levers and a lever arm for engagingsaid contact members for moving said bars to tension said spring means, latches for engaging saidbars, means for tripping said latches, and manually actuated cam means for controlling said tripping means. v

14. In a stoker; a distributor plate, a variable speed screw elevator for delivering fuel to said plate, a pairof swinging vanes for sweeping the fuel from said plate, and means for alternately or selectively operating said vanes in timed relation to the rotation of said screw elevator.

15. In combination, a fire-box having an opening therein, a distributor plate extending into said opening, a rotary elevator for delivering fuel to said plate, a pair of swinging wines for projecting the fuel'from' said plate into said box, means for operating said elevator at variable speed intimed relation to the operatlonof said vanes, means for operating said vanes, and meansfor each of said vanes.

v16. In a Stoker, a distributor plate, a 1'0- controlling the frequency 01 the operation Olitary elevator for supplying fuel to said plate, a pair of vanes for sweeping said fuel from said plate, means including one spring only for operating said vanes, said spring being adapted to project said vanes forwardly alternately.

NATHAN M. LO\VER. 

